Q. I recently watched The Playhouse on AMC and was amazed as usual by its singular wit and originality, but can you tell me if we have any info on how Buster achieved his effects?? What was he thinking? Thanks!!
A. Buster used simple double exposures for the shots that have two “Busters” in them. For the more complex shots, such as the minstrel show or the orchestra, he created a special covering for the camera lens, one that would block the light except for the section he wanted to film. Then he performed in time to a metronome (and the cameraman hand-cranked the camera in time also). When they completed that shot, the cameraman had to rewind the film to the exact frame where they had started before, close that section of the covering and open the next one to repeat the process until they got all of the film exposed. It was such a spectacular special effect in its day, that film technicians were astounded by it.
Q.Film collector, Keaton fanatic and about to be Damfino here. . . I've always wondered where (the Keaton film) "College" was filmed. . that is on what college campus?? I'm current watching it for the zillionth time. Thank you.
A. If you'll take a look at our website (www.busterkeaton.com), you'll find under NEWS a reference to John Bengtson's new book, which will tell you more than you ever wanted to know. And once you get your first newsletter, you'll find his regular column and notice that he's more than happy to get email on his favorite subject -- Keaton film locations. Glad to have you with us.
Q. I am 17 years old and a huge Buster fan, I was wondering if you could help me with a question I've had about Buster for a while: In "My Wife's Relations," while Buster and his wife's family are being photographed, the photographer somewhat resembles Charlie Chaplin. Is he Chaplin? I am almost sure it is, by his mannerisms.
A. Glad to know there are new silent film fans out there. Sorry to disappoint you, but the photographer is not Chaplin.
Q. Several years ago, I read that Keaton's locomotive from The General was still at the bottom of the creek it landed in at the end of the movie. I called the Cottage Grove Historical Society and was told that it had, in fact, been left there for some sixty years but had just recently been pulled out and sold for scrap. However, the person I talked to sounded unsure of the story, so I've always wondered about it. Can you provide any further information about it?A. The train was at the bottom of the ravine until World War II, when it was removed for scrap metal (hardly "recently" by my standards!). They also pulled up the railroad tracks for the spikes and went after any other loose metal they could find.
Q. I have heard and read that Buster made a cameo appearance in " It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" but, as many times as I look, I can't seem to find him. It's driving me crazy. Can you tell me where he appears?
A. Buster is, indeed, in It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. He is right toward the end, when Spencer Tracy is running away. Tracy parks his car in a garage for a while -- Buster is the man who helps him push the car up the street. Originally, though, Buster filmed a much larger role as a character called Jimmy the Crook -- but his scenes were cut at the last minute and all that remain are those few seconds with the car and Spencer Tracy.
Q. Please settle an argument. In the movie "Benny and Joon," Johnny Depp does an imitation of what I say is Buster Keaton. He does a short "dance" with two forks with potatoes on the ends at a lunch counter. My husband says it is an imitation on Charlie Chaplin. I am sure it is Buster Keaton but, I can't find any pictures on the web to back up my claim.
A. Sorry to disappoint you, but that "roll dance" is usually considered a Chaplin gag. It was used in The Gold Rush (1925). However, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle used it earlier, in one of his short films with Keaton -- so the gag may have originated with Arbuckle, or it’s even possible that Keaton showed it to Arbuckle, or perhaps Arbuckle picked it up even earlier from Chaplin ... with whom he had worked before he and Keaton worked together. If you bet money, no one wins.
